Strap watch



28, 1933. l A. E. MANHEIMER 1,899,285

STRAP WATCH Filed NOV. 16 '1929 Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE ARTHUR E. MANHEIMER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BYMESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO LUG-LESS XVATCH COMPANY, 0F ILLINOIS CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATIONOF STRAP WATCH Application filed November 16, 1929. Serial No. 407,648.

This invention relates to improvements in strap watches and the like, ofthe type commonly secured to the wrist, ankle or any other appropriateportion of the body of a wearer', by means of a bracelet, strap,sautoir, or the equivalent. The invention relates more particularly toimproved means for attaching a bracelet, strap, or other securing deviceto the case of a Watch of this character, the securing device being madeof metal, leather, or any desirable material.

As will be apparent hereinafter, the subject matter presented herein isrelated to the inventions disclosed in my co-pending applications,namely, Serial No. 279,386, entitled lVrist watch, filed May 21, 1928,and Serial No. 280,786, entitled Strap watch, tiled May 26, 1928; butthe present invention incorporates reiinement in structure not presentin the aforesaid co-pending cases.

As stated in my aforesaid co-pending cases, means for attaching a strapor the like to a watch heretofore known have, in most instances, provenobjectionable in that the means projected from the case of the watch inan unsightly manner, and in such a way that they frequently becameentangled with the apparel of a wearer and maintained the bracelet endin such a position of exposure that they were frequently prematurely andnoticeably Worn. lMoreover, these formerly known securing means werequite often difficult to properly connect, and in most casesnecessitated the attention of a skilled repair man or jeweler.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide means forconnecting a strap or the like to a watch in such a manner that theresulting appearance is that of the strap passing entirely through thewatch, the connecting or securing means being entirely invisible.

Another objectof this invention is to provide means for connecting astrap or the equivalent to a watch in a simple and expeditious mannerconsisting of simply laying the strap end in position and snapping on acover of the watch.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of means forattaching a strap or the like to a watch, which means, although theynecessitate some modification in` the structure of the case body, yetrequire no enlargement of the case body and are disposed entirely withinthe watch case.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics, and advantagesof the means embodying the present invention have been above pointedout, others will become apparent from the following disclosures.

The invent-i on includes these and other features of construction andcombinations of parts hereinafter described, and shown in a preferredform in the drawing, as more particularly indicated by the claims.

On the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a watch with a strap or bracelet attachedthereto by means embodying the present invention, this yigure showingthe resultant appearance after the strap has been attached.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the central portion ofthe structure shown in Figure 1, with the bezel or front cover of thewatch removed.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially asindicated by the line III-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicatedby the line IV-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a View similar' to Figure 3, disclosing a slightly diierentform of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially asindicated by the line Vl-VI of Figure 5.

A s shown on the drawing:

In thestructure selected for illustrating an embodiment of the presentinvention, there is shown a watch 10, which, in this instance, is ofsubstantially the type of the commonly known wrist or strap watch. Asseen in Figures 1 to 4,- inclusive, a strap or bracelet 11, in twopieces, is attached to the watch 10, the strap being shown as made oflea-ther, but it is 'to be distinctly understood that the strap may becloth, metal, or any other desired material. The watch 10 comprises thecustomary case body 12 having a relatively large'central aperture 13therein for the reception of the watch movement, a back cover 14, and abezel or front cover 15, the latter bearing the watch crystal 16 in anywell known manner. The back cover 14 has an inwardly turned rim 17thereon which snaps over a shoulder 18 formed on the rear side of thecase body, and the front cover or bezel 15 is secured to the case bodyby a similar snapping engagement with a shoul-v der 19. v

Since each portion of the strap 11 is attached to a side of the casebody in identical manner, it will only be necessary herein to describethe means for and method of attaching one portion of the strap to thecase. It will be noted that the strap 11, as is customary in devices ofthis character, is provided with an enlarged portion orloop adjacent theinner end thereof, and a pin 21 is preferably passed through t is loopto maintain the same in expanded position. As is Y seen more clearly inFigures 2, 3, and 4, the

case body 12 is provided with a recess 22 adjacent an end thereof, therecess being suiciently large to accommodate both the loop 20 andthe pin21. From the disclosure Figure 3, it will be noted that the recess iscurved in the bottom thereof in the Vsame manner as is the loop 20, sothat the loop will bevsubstantially embraced by the recess and anupwardly extending portion Vor lip 23 will abut the strap adjacent theterminus of theloop. The pin 21 which passes through the loop 20 bearsat each end thereof a small projection or tip 24 which rests in anarrowed extension 25 of the recess 22 and serves to hold-the strapendin position until the watch cover, in this instance the bezel 15, issnapped into place. .1 Y L With reference now to Figures 3 and 4, itwill be seen that the bezel 15. in thisin` stance has anV inwardlyturned margin V26 thereon which overlies the recess 22, the marginadjacent the outer edge thereof being provided with a downwardly turnedlip 27 which embraces and hugs the loop in the strap end in the samemanner as the lip 23 upon the case body does upon the opposite side ofthe Istrap. It will be noted also that the margin 26 upon the bezelextends inwardly sullcient ly for snapping engagement with the endportion of the shoulder 19 on the casebody, this end portion of theshoulder being set in somewhat farther than-would be the case if therecess 22 were not present. It will be apparent, therefore, that thebezel 15 will have intimatecontact with the case body entirelytherearound, and that due to the margin 26 and lip 27, the strap end orloop 20 will be held firmly in position, i. e., Yfirmly connected to thecase body, and dust effectively prevented from entering through Vtherecess 22 and eventually into the space between the case lbody andcover.

neeaess ln operation, the structure just previously described herein isextremely simple and effective. Assuming now that the strap is separatefrom the watch and it is desired to attach the two, it is simplynecessary to remove the bezel 15 from the watch, insert the pin 21 inthe loop 20 of the strap, and then merely lay both pin and strap intothe recess 22. The tips 24 upon the pin will auto'- matically fallwithin the extension 25 of the recess and this latter engagement willhold the strap in position in the recess 22 until the bezel has beenreplaced upon the watch case body. The mere replacement of the bezelsecures the elements in their proper posit-ion andlirmly holds the strapconnected to the watch. Of course, as pointed out hereinabove, bothsides ofthe watch case are constructed in identical manner, andthe twostrap ends are attached preferably in a singele operation. t should alsobe borne in mind that if, for any reason, it is desired to reverse themechanism, that the back cover 14 of the watch may be equally as wellutilized to hold the strap in position.

stance, the pin 2l maintains the loop 2O inV expanded position, so thatthere is no possibility of the loop pulling out between the lips 23 and2'?. However, when a metal strap is utilized, these straps commonlyhaving an integral metal loop on the end thereof or other suitableformation, the pin 2l is not infact necessary, since the metal loopVwill always retain its normal shape. Vith the metal loop, the onlyfunction the pin would serve would be to retain theloop in position byengagement of the tips 24 in the extensions 25 of the recess until theoperator had opportunity to replace the cover. I i' ln Figures 5 and 6 lhave shown a slightly modiiied form of the present invention.V ln thisinstance, a watch is shown comprising a case body 28, a back cover 29which'may be snapped onto the case body Vin the manner previouslydescribed, and a front cover or bezel 30 carrying the customary crystal31 therein.

The bezel 30 has the ordinary inwardly turned rim completely therearoundywhich snaps over a shoulder 32 formed on the case body. However, thecase body is provided at each side thereof with a removable portionSwhich slopes downwardly as at 34 and laterally as at 35 and seatswithin a similarly shaped recess in the case body, whereby the removablepiece 33 is effectively dovetailed in the case body against a lateralpull. As indicated at 36, the removable piece 33 is also shoulderedadjacent the top thereof to per# mit the bezel 30 to snap thereover sothat the bezel is in intimate engagement with the case body at allpoints therearound.

The removable piece 33 is also provided with a` suitable key-hole slottherein which receives a loop 37 upon the end of a metallic strap 38.

In the operation of the structure disclosed in Figures 5 and 6, toattach the strap to the watch, it is simply necessary to remove thebezel 30, insert the loop 37 of the strap by relative endWise motioninto the removable piece 33, lay the removable piece 33 in itsrespective socket in the case body, and snap the bezel back intoposition. It will also be apparent that due to the shoulder 36 upon theremovable piece no dust may enter the interior of the watch case. If itis desired to use a strap made of soft material, such as leather, cloth,or the like, with the structure shown in Figures 5 and 6, any suitableform of pin may be inserted in the loop in the strap end to maintainthis loop in eX- panded position and prevent the same from pullingthrough the narrowed opening of the keyhole slot.

As in the case of the previously described form of the invention, thisform may also be incorporated or utilized with either of the watchcovers.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided effectiveand simple means for attaching a bracelet, strap, sautoir, or the liketo a watch case, the means of attachment being entirely concealed by acover of the watch case. Moreover, dust is effectively excluded by thecooperation between the cover and case body, which cooperation serves toeffectively hold the strap connected to the case. Furthermore, theconstruction set forth herein is extremely simple both to manufactureand use, is very durable, and also economical.

It will also be evident from the foregoing that the present inventionembodies a new method of attaching a bracelet, a strap, or the like fora watch case, which method is deemed apparent from the previousdescriptions herein.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through awide range without departing from the principles of this invention, andI, therefore, do not urpose limiting the patent granted, otherwise thannecessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A watch case including a case body and a cover therefor, said bodyhaving a recess in the margin thereof beneath said cover, a strap havinga shouldered end portion disposed in said recess, and means associatedwith said body and cover and engaging the shoulders of said portion toprevent dust entering between said recess and cover.

2. In a connection of the class described, a watch case including a bodypart and a cover part, means for attaching the case to a wearer, saidparts together providing a constricted recess, and said means having aportion fitting in said recess, said parts preventing removal of saidportion from said recess.

3. In a connection of the class decribed, a watch case including a casemember, an attaching member therefor, one of said members having arecess and the other having a portion fitting in said recess, and meanson one of said members for const-rioting said recess to preventseparation of said members by movement of the other member through theconstriction of the recess, said means being readily removable to allowseparation of said members.

4. A watch case including a case body and a cover therefor, said bodyhaving a recess beneath said cover, and means for attaching said case toa wearer, said means having an end portion provided with a shoulder andlayable in said recess when said cover is removed, said cover, whenreplaced, engaging said shoulder and thereby retaining said portion insaid recess.

5, As an article of manufacture, a watch case including a case body, acover for said body connectible with and having a portion in spacedrelation to the body, said body havinga recess beneath said cover andcommunicating with the space between said body and cover for thereception of a strap end, and means associated with said case in such amanner that said cover will snap on said body at all points therearound.

6. A watch case including a cover and a body having a slot extendingalong one margin thereof, a fastener for said case and having meanssubstantially coextcnsive with and disposed in said slot, and meansembracing the first means and engaged by said cover for connecting saidfastener to said body.

7. A watch case including a cover' and a body having a slot extendingalong one margin thereof, a fastener for said case and having meanssubstantially co-extensive with and disposed in said slot, and meansembracing the lirst means and engaged by said cover for connecting saidfastener to said body, the second means being also substantiallycoeXtensive with said slot.

8. In a device of the class described, a watch case having a recessextending along a inargin thereof, a strap for securing the case to awearer, said strap being enlarged at one end, a removable piecesubstantially co-extensive with and fitting in said recess andconstituting substantially a continuation of the adjacent marginalportions of the case, said piece having a constricted recess in whichsaid enlarged end is carried.

9. In a device of the class described, a watch case having a'recessextending along a margin thereof, a strap for securing the case to awearer, said strap being enlarged at `one end, a removable piecesubstantially coextensive with and fitting in said recess andconstituting substantially al continuation of the adjacent marginalportions of the case, said piece having; a constricted recess in whichsaid enlarged end is carried, said case including a body and a cover,said body and piece providing together a continuous rabbet in which saidcover is snugly and reinovably received, whereby said piece is retainedin the first nientionedrecess..

l0. ln a device of` the class described, awatch case comprising a bodyand a cover together providing along a margin thereof a constrictedrecess, a removable piece substantially filling said recess and forminga substantial continuation of the adjacent marginal portions of saidbody and cover, anda fastenerv removably connected to said piece.

l1. En a connection of the class described, a watch case comprising abody provided with a recess extending along a niargi thereof, saidrecess being closed at its ends and open along two sides, a covercooperating` with said body and closing one of the open sides of therecess and partially closing the other open side thereof, and a fastenerfor said body, said fastener having an enlarged endsubstantially'filling said recess, whereby the fastener is connected tothe body.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto sub scribed iny name at Chicago,Cook County,

llinois.

- ARTHUR E. BANHEIMHR.`

